Catholicism/Christian and Tattoo's

I know a very devout Catholic who has two tattoos. Infinite Art on Secor is a good place.

The Catholic religion is good at making their followers feel guilty about anything and everything. I say go for it!

I'm Catholic and have three. I also agree with either infinite art that's where I got two of mine, or Toledo Tattoo is where I got my other one. Both did great jobs.

I always use Dominic at infinite. I have two crosses one on my left arm and one on my left calf with my kid's initials. Then I have an Ohio State one on my left arm for my uncle that passed away. Plan on getting another one once I figure out what I want.

I'd personally stay away from needle masters. They messed up one of my tats that thankfully infinite art was able to fix.

Also depending on the size will define the price. My cross which is about 6 1/2 long and 5 1/2 wide cost me about 275 at infinite art, but there is some detail in it. My Ohio State one cost me about $75 and inifinite art fixed it for free. My other cross was about $150

Here is what I have to say about any tattoo...

#1 get it placed so you can hide it with a short sleeve/polo style shirt
#2 Any tattoo you want....draw up, and then wait a year. Yes 1 year. Why? Because a tattoo is for life. If you like it after a year then you can get it. You would be amazed at how often this bit of advise has prevented me from getting more ink. It also would have saved friends from a lot of their own stupidity.

As for the religious side...our body is a temple, so decorate it in a manner that praises, not offends. Most people have pierced ears and more - altering our bodies is not all that uncommon or taboo.

I second lfrost2125's suggestion of Dominic. He's a very cool guy

born and raised irish and french catholic... went to cathedral even... my uncle was a priest. let go of the guilt; ignore what the bureaucracy in the church says; follow what jesus actually said... the beatitudes. at least follow what bob marley said "emancipate yourself from mental slavery"

INeed,

you gave me an idea for a new tat. Something that lends toward my Irish roots. Thinking the Sullivan Coat of Arms or a Celtic Cross of some sort.

I'm with OhioKimono and EnjoyEverySandwich. Tattoos are permanent, so get it drawn on and see if you still want it after one solid year. If you feel ambivalent after a year, don't make it permanent.

Read the Bible and arrive at your own conclusions about whether getting a tattoo is the right thing to do.

I am a Christian who has been born again and I attend a nondenominational Christian church. Services are traditional.

Just stay away from portraits. This is a favorite internet meme, but I think it was done by a place in BG:

Before you just go to any place and get a tattoo, do a search on the internet about the place and learn about the artist. So many tattoo artists jump from place to place and a recommendation from someone who got Artist "A" from Infinate Art, might not be the person who you "get" when you show up to get yours.
Also, many artists specialize in particular tattoos. Some are great black and shade artists. Some can do colors awesome. Some do everything well. Decide what you want and then find an artist who's portfolio shows that type of work.
Finally, the best advice is to not get a standard or "cookie cutter" tattoo. There is nothing wrong with looking at the tons of prints out there and selecting one for you, but also, add something or change something that makes it YOUR tattoo. For instance, there are many crosses, etc. you can pick straight off the paper, but add a ribbon with a word, or name, or anything that you and the artist decide on. Many artists will "consult" with you about your tattoo before they actually do it. Take that time to tell them exactly what you want.
Good luck.

INC, great questions and it's great that you're taking your time to make the decision - I work with a great many people (women especially) who regret having rashly gone and gotten tatted - the ones sporting the now called 'tramp stamps' especially.

I also actally did do the year thing with my first tat - I found one I liked, and that meant something to me, and actually printed it out on paper in the size I wanted, and it lived in my wallet for a year. Since I got it, I have no 'buyers remorse' for doing it.

hockeyf also has good advice about the 'cookie cutter' tattoo - that has also been the cause for regret for friends of mine.

as far as the religious aspect of it, Im a Christian, and my pastor thinks the 'Jesus Fish' tat I have on my left arm is pretty cool. I found it online after MANY hours of looking, here's the one I chose.

http://www.religioustattoos.net/Other_Tattoos/Jesus_Fish_IXOYE/jesus_fish_45.php

In re putting your Grandfather (or anyone else's name) above a cross? I wouldnt think it's blasphemy at all. You see people putting names on tomb stones with crosses on them in every cemetary you go to. Who says a monument or 'marker' needs to be made out of marble? If you want to use your arm, or wherever, to memorialize your grandfather, I say go for it! There's nothing scriptural they can show that disagrees with me - (remember the NEW covenant is the one Christians follow)...

My advice to everyone is before you start tattooing, stop and think seriously about what it's going to look like after 40 or 50 years of wrinkling skin and whether you'll still love it as much when you're 75 as you did when you were 25.

My daughter has a tattoo of the Cheshire Cat that covers her entire left arm from elbow to shoulder as well as two or three smaller ones in other places. Because she works in the professional world, she wears long sleeves all summer. She can forget that warm and sunny June wedding. I'm thinking maybe January because no amount of make-up is going to cover that fat, furry feline.

shortysmom - is your daughter unhappy with her tattoo now?

Most of my female friends that have tattoos (the majority being professionals that have to hide them at work) specifically chose their wedding dresses to highlight their tattoos, not hide them. I have very few friends that regret their tattoos, but that could be because they all thought carefully before getting theirs.

Sounds like you've thought long and hard about your tattoos INC - I say go for them. I didn't get my first tattoo until I turned 30 and couldn't be happier with it.

I am covered in visible tattoos and its never affected Mg professional life. The times, they are a changin'

Many if not most famous religious paintings by the great artists used their wives, friends, and other family members and friends to fashion Christ and Mary from...... just my bit on art history here.

Tattoos have become mainstream lately. Except for that guy I keep seeing around Toledo with "Bitch" across the front of his neck. lol
Now that should be a tattoo worth regretting.

I am covered in visible tattoos and its never affected Mg professional life. The times, they are a changin'

Now we know what you look like, upso (this guy is for real by the way):

yowza!

he looks great now but when his hair grows out he looks silly

She loves it now, but she's only had it a couple months. She started the tats and piercings when she was 18 and she's 30 now, so she still has a lot of years left to regret what she's done. When I was in my teens the only women you saw with tattoos lived in carnival wagons or stood on street corners in bad neighborhoods. I guess it's a generational bias that I'm stuck with because I think all tattoos are ugly no matter who's wearing them.

I've had all mine for almost 15 years don't regret one of them because each one has a special meaning to me. I didn't just go pick something out of a book.

I already made an appointment to go get my fourth. I decided to get my family crest done.

Thank you everyone for the posts :) I like the idea of picking one and keeping it for a while to make sure I still like it after time.

I'm Catholic and have 2. I only regret one, so make sure you really like it before you get it.

Thanks Walleye, and everyone :) When I first considered it was mid 90's back when Alice in Chains, Metallica, and think Nirvana was still around. Most people I knew got one which sparked my interest.

The idea for a Shamrock perhaps with Éirinn go Brách above it hit me as a possibility, but a lot of the fears people semi-warned me about here made sense. What would I think about it a couple years down the road, decades? Well that was 15 years ago so I think that one is kinda down solid :)

As for the Crucifix, it is a new idea and something to think about. But honestly I've always been religious even though I never had a formal Christian background. I went into RCIA on my own terms because out of all of the religions I felt Christianity fit the best, and specifically Catholicism. I'm truly grateful for RCIA, because it gave me 1 year not only to learn and fulfill my interest, but weed out the honest truth amongst all the skepticism you see online, in the news, even amongst family and friends.

I really can't see myself ever regretting that one either. Because my heritage and faith will never change. Now it's down to why I want/need or not to go this route. Getting or not getting one will neither add to take from who I am. So why do it?

I've lived a much harder life than even the modest posts I've leaked here, there's been a lot of pain, sadness, misery, life-scaring events, yet happiness, breaking barriers, redemption, multiple times in my life. Each time I learn and move to a better future. In a way I'm still curious about it, because my body and mind is the one thing that seems to be stable in this life. Having a mark on the only thing that is truly mine acts as a reminder of who I am, where i've been, and with the Cross where I'm going and where I want to be.

Hope that makes sense, still not sure if I'll go through with it, but food for thought and appreciate all the posts.

Just FYI the poop tattoo is fake:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/poop-tattoo-story-is-crap-8764319